Boat cover



Oct. 2, 1956 R. s. WOODRUFF, R

BOAT COVER 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 22, 1954.

Oct. 2, 1956 R. s. WOODRUEF, SR 2,764,765

BOAT COVER Filed NOVJZZ, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Everzg Oct. 2, 1956 R. s.WOODRUFF, 512 2,764,765

BOAT COVER Filed Nov. 22, 1954 s SneQtS Sheet a United States Patent()BOAT COVER Ralph S. Woodruif, Sr.,'Point Pleasant Borough, N. J.

Application November 22, 1954, Serial No. 470,204

4 Claims. (Cl. 9-1) This invention relates to protective covers forvehicles and more particularly to a cover for a boat and the like.

When vehicles, such as boats, are not in use it is desirable to coverthem in order to protect them from damage by the elements, namely, rain,sleet, snow and sun. Such covers are usually formed of fabric, such ascanvas, to fit over the cockpit in the boat and are usually detachablyfastened to the boat by complemental fastening elements along themarginal edges of cockpit of the boat and along the marginal edge of thecover. Fabric covers, however, when applied to the boat and become wettend to shrink, resulting in tearing the cover and sometimes damagingand disconnecting the fastening elements so that the covers become looseand inefli'ective.

The present invention aims to overcome this difficulty by compensatingfor such shrinkage so that there shall be a minimum of stress or strainon both the cover and the fastening elements during such shrinkage andthe cover shall remain in protecting position on the boat without localtearing of the cover.

Another object of the invention is to provide a cover for a boat whichcan be readily applied to and removed from the boat and which shall benot only adjustable to fit boats of different overall dimensions butalso may be snugly fitted thereto at the points of principal contourvariations.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a boat cover whichutilizes the'customary pointed bow of the 5 boat as a centering meansfor facilitating installation of the cover.

A still further object is to provide novel means for tensioning thecover both transversely and longitudinally of the boat when the cover isin position on the boat.

It is further proposed to produce a boat cover which is simple anddurable in construction and which can be manufactured and sold at areasonable cost.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from thedescription thereof to follow taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings in which- Figure 1 is a top plan view of a motor boat with acover embodying one form of my invention applied thereto.

Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the plane of the line22 of Figure 3 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken on the plane ofthe line 33 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a similar view taken on the plane of the line 44 of Figure1.

Figure 5, is a horizontal sectional view taken on the plane of the line5-5 of Figure 3.

Figure 6 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken on the plane ofthe line 66 of Figure 3 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 7 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view of the bow of the boatshowing the cover in fastened condition thereon.

Figure 8 is an enlarged view in perspective showing the 2,764,765Patented Oct. 2, 195 6 "ice front portion of the cover with thefastening harness untied.

Figure 9 is a view in perspective of a fragment of the reinforcinginsert shown in Figure 8.

Figure 10 is a view in plan of the cover fastening harness of Figure 1.

Figure 11 is an enlarged fragmentary view in plan showing the manner ofattaching one end of an elastic tensioning strap to the cover.

Figure 12 is an enlarged view in section through the center of the otherend of the elastic strap of Figure 11.,

Figure 13 is an enlarged detail sectional view showing the fasteningelements for fastening a tensioning strap, taken on the line 13-13 ofFig. 6. v

Figure 14 is a view in perspective of a cabin type boat with a coverembodying a modification of the invention applied thereto.

Figure 15 is an enlarged view in section taken on the plane of the line1515 of Figure 14 and looking in the direction of the arrows. v

Figure 16 is an enlarged view in section taken on the plane of the line16-16 of Figure 14 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 17 is an enlarged view in section similar to Figure 16 butshowing a modified arrangement for fastening the cover to the boat.

Referring to thedrawings in detail and particularly to Figures 1 to 13,inclusive, a cover 1 embodying the first form of the invention isillustrated as applied to a known motor boat 2 having the usual pointedbow 3, stern 4, gunwale S and cockpit 6. Preferably the cover is made ofa'sheet of flexible fabric such as canvas. The cover is elongated andapproximately corresponds in shape to the top side of the boat, thecover having a peripheral edge portion 7 that extends at right angles tothe general plane of the body of the cover when the latter is inprotective position on the boat. At one end, the cover tapers or curvesto a blunt point as indicated at 8 to conform to the shape of the bow 3of the boat and at the extreme point of said end is cut away to form agap 9 disposed in line with the longitudinal center line of the coverand extending from said end edge to a point inwardly thereof where it isformed with a curved inner edge 10. The material around the gap 9 may bereinforced by a fabric strip 11 fastened to the inner surface of thecover by stitching 12.

The marginal edge of the cover is turned upon itself and stitched alongthe line 13 to form a tubular hem or loop 14. The ends 15 of the hemterminate at both sides of the gap 9 and are open.

An elongated loop-like sectional fastening device or harness indicatedgenerally at 16 and shown in detail in Figure 10 is loosely mounted inthe hem 14 of the cover for gathering or constricting the hem in orderto fasten the cover to the boat. This harness consists of alternateshort lengths or sections of rope 17 and elastic tapes or straps 18flexibly connected together. The ends of the rope sections 17 are loopedthrough grommets 19 fitted in openings in the ends of the elastic straps18 and are secured in such looped formation by metal sleeves 20. Thesection of rope midway the ends of the harness and indicated at 21 iselongated and is positioned in the portion of the hem 14 which encirclesthe stern 4 of the boat, when the cover is in protective positionthereon. The end rope sections 22 are elongated and are connected by anelastic strap or tape 23, the rope sections extending loosely throughgrommets 24 fitted in openings in the ends of the tape 23.

In placing the cover 1 on the boat, the end of the of the cover with itsenclosed harness is pulled downwardly to a position underneath butadjacent the gunwale 5 as shown in Figures 3 and 4 in order to cover thecock pit of the boat. The free ends of the end rope sections 22 are thengrasped and pulled tightly in order to take up any slack in the hem.Each rope section 22 is then separately knotted as indicated at 25, inorder to fasten the hem around the boat and to prevent withdrawal of therope section through the connecting strap 23.

When fabric covers, such as the canvas cover 1, become wet they shrinkand in the shrinking operation are liable to become loose from theiranchoring members, become torn or otherwise damaged and often damage theanchoring members. 7 According to the present invention, this diflicultyis eliminated by providing devices for compensating for such shrinkagewhen it occurs. Such devices comprise a plurality of elongated elasticstraps 26, preferably formed of rubber, spaced along the longitudinaledge portions of the cover and extending transversely thereof as shownin Figures 1 and 2, and similar straps 27 spaced along the rear end ofthe cover and extending longitudinally of the cover. Each of the straps26 and 27, at one end, is secured by stitching 28 to a reinforcing patch29 of canvas secured to the cover 1 by stitching 30 (see Figure 3) at apoint inwardly of the hem 14 thereof. The other end of each strap 26 and27 is free or unattached, preferably terminating short of the hem andhas embedded therein a reinforcing strip of fabric indicated at 31 inFigure 12. This reinforced end is formed with an opening in which isfitted a grommet 32 as shown most clearly in Figure 12. The elasticstraps 26 and 27 are detachably fastened to the boat by slipping theeyelets or grommets 32.0ver headed studs 33, suitably secured to thegunwale 5 of the boat and extending downwardly from the undersidethereof, so that each of said grommets 32 becomes interlocked betweenthe base portion 34 and head portion 35 of the stud 33 as shown mostclearly in Figure 13.

As shown in Figure 3, each strap 26 or 27 extends from its inner pointof attachment to the cover outwardly to a point remote from the hem 14so that the hem extends outwardly beyond the outer ends of the strapswhereby when the hem is secured in position beneath but adjacent to thegunwale 5 of the boat, a fullness or gathering as indicated at 36 inFigures 3 and 4 is provided in the cover, in the area thereof outwardlyof such points of attachment. This construction provides the necessarytautness of the cover over the cockpit 6 of the boat, and at the sametime provides the necessary fullness and gathering to permit the coverto shrink in all directions and to take up the slack afforded by thegathering 36, against the action of the elastic straps and the fullnessof the cover 26 and 27, the straps thus serving to compensate for theshrinking action of the cover.

In Figure 14, a modified form of protective cover 1' is illustrated asapplied to a cabin type boat 37 having a conventional hull 38 providedwith a cockpit 39, a gunwale 40 extending around the hull, and a cabinrearwardly of the bow 44. The cabin includes a wooden panel 45 at eachside thereof, a front glass windshield 46 and a roof 47 supported on theside panels. Each side panel 45' is provided with a glass pane 48 andwith a curved rear end edge converging with its top end edge 50. A topcanopy construction is supported on and above the rear end of the roof47 of the cabin and includes a glass pane frame 51 at each side, a frontglass windshield 52 and a roof 53 supported on the side frames 51.

The cover 1' is formed of a single sheet of canvas having a body shapedas shown in Figure 14-, with a front portion 54, a rear portion 55 andside portions 56. The front portion 54 is adapted to be stretched overthe roof 53 of the top canopy of the boat, each integral side portion 56is. adapted to hug the adjacent glass pane frame 51, and the, integralrear portion 55. is adapted to extend from the roof 53 to the stem 57 ofthe boat for covering the cockpit 39 of the boat. The bottom edge 58 ofeach side portion 56 is curved to conform to the curvature of the rearand upper end edges 49 and 50, respectively, of the adjacent side panel56 and is secured to the side panel by snap fastener elements 59 spacedalong said bottom edge 58 cooperating with complemental snap fastenerelements 60 secured to and extending from the top end edge and rear endedge 50 and 49, respectively, of the adjacent side panel 56. Each sideportion 56 is provided with a pane 61 of transparent material to affordvisibility therethrough.

The peripheral edge of the rear portion 55 of the cover is turned uponitself throughout its length and stitched along the line 62 to form atubular hem or loop 14', each end 63 of the hem being open. A harness,similar in construction to the harness 16 of the form of the inventionof Figures 1 to 13, inclusive, and indicated generally at 16', isloosely mounted in the tubular hem 14' for fastening the rear portion 55of the cover to the boat, underneath the gunwale 40. In this form of theinvention, however, each end rope section 22' of the harness 16' is tiedto an anchoring stud 64 secured to the underside of the gunwale 40 ateach side of the boat.

According to the invention, elastic tensioning straps 26' and 27 similarin construction to the elastic straps 26 and 27, respectively, of theform of the invention of Figures 1 to 13, inclusive, are similarlymounted along the rear portion 55 of the cover 1, adjacent its hem 14',and are similarly fastened to the underside of the gunwale 40 by meansof the grommets 32 and studs 33' on the straps and gunwale,respectively, so as to leave a fullness or gathering 36 in the areaadjacent the hem 14 of said rear portion 55 of the cover. The straps 26'and 27' are so disposed that when the cover is in position on the boatas shown in Figure 14, such straps extend respectively transversely andlongitudinally of the boat. This construction permits the cover 1' toshrink in all directions, without either disturbing the fasteningelements or damaging the cover as the elastic straps and fullness serveto compensate for the shrinking; and the cover remains in protectiveposition over the cockpit of. the boat.

A modified arrangement for fastening the side portions 56 of the cover1' is illustrated in Figure 17 wherein the lower edge 58 of the sideportion is fastened to a stud 65 on the underside of the overhangingedge 66 of the side frame 51 of the cabin.

It will be understood that changes might be made in details ofconstruction without departing from the principle of the invention, andI desire to be limited only by the state of the prior art and theappended claims. 0bviously the invention may be embodied in covers forother structures or articles.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire tosecure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. The combination with a boat having an outwardly projecting gunwale,of a protective cover therefor comprising an elongated body of flexiblesheet fabric material of a size and shape to overlie the portion of theboat to be covered and with the edge portions of said body overhangingsaid gunwale, said body being provided with a tubular hem along its edgeportions disposed beneath said gunwale and having a gap therein, anelongated flexible loop-like fastening device extending through said hemwith its ends projecting freely from the hem into said gap, saidfastening device being taut and holding said hem beneath said gunwale tofasten the cover on the boat, and elongated elastic tension membersdisposed transversely of the body, each tension member being secured atone end to the body at a point distantly spaced from said hem and theremainder of each tension member being free from said body, fasteningelements on the outer side of said boat beneath said gunwale, and afastening element secured tothe other free end of each tension membercomplementary to the first-mentioned fastening elements and connected toone of said first-mentioned fastening elements with the tension elementunder tension, the body having a fullness between said hem and saidpoints of securement of the tension members to the body When the tensionmembers are fastened to the boat, said tension members and said fullnessserving to compensate for shrinkage of the body.

2. A protective cover for a boat comprising a flexible sheet of fabricof a size and shape to overlie a portion of a boat to be covered, meansfor separably connecting the marginal portions of said sheet along theedges of said portion of the boat, and a plurality of elastic tensionmembers, each having one end secured to said sheet at a point distantlyspaced from the margin of the sheet, the remainder of each tensionmember extending outwardly toward the margin of the sheet and being freefrom said sheet, and a fastening element on the other end of eachtension member for cooperation with a complementary fastener element ona boat to be covered.

3. The combination with a boat having an outwardly projecting gunwale,of an elongated flexible fabric sheet of a size and shape to overlie theportion of the boat to be covered, means for separably connecting themarginal portions of the sheet to the boat and a plurality of elastictension members each secured at one end to the sheet at a pointdistantly spaced from the margin of the sheet, the remainder of thetension member extending outwardly toward the margin of the sheet andbeing free from said sheet, a fastening element secured on the free endof each tension member, and a fastening member on the boat separablycooperating with said fastening element on each of said tension membersfor fastening the tension members to the boat, the sheet having afullness between its marginal portions and the points of securement ofthe tension members to the sheet when the tension members are fastenedto the boat, said tension members and said fullness compensating forshrinkage of the sheet.

4. The combination with a boat having an outwardly projecting gunwale ofan elongated flexible fabric sheet of a size and shape to overlie theportion of the boat to be covered, and means for separably connectingthe sheet to the boat including a plurality of fastening elements on theboat and spaced along the margins of said portion of the boat to becovered, a plurality of resilient tension members spaced apart along themarginal portions of the sheet and each connected at one end to thesheet, the other end of each tension member being free from the sheetand connected to one of said fastening elements on the boat.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS115,972 Mason June 13, 1871 307,952 Janes Nov. 11, 1884 1,938,610Robertson Dec. 12, 1933 2,028,454 Johnson Jan-21, 1936 2,570,533 ElliottOct. 9, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS 22,720 Norway Oct. 28, 1912 533,557 GermanySept. 16, 1931

